Fanv lets go of Mikvel as if burned by him. He thrashed and wailed in pure, unseeing terror. Outside the tent, she heard the bandits stir and run over. The owner of the tent lumbered over while swearing. He barely managed to finish his long string of curses when the wolf slammed into him.

She snarled and reared up her head to look as big and imposing as possible, then she took a deep breath and roared at all the bandits present. They froze in their tracks and the stench of urine rose from the burly bandit beneath her.

For a painfully slow minute, they just stared at each other. Fanv with her ears flattened and hackles raised, the bandits staring in horror and confusion at the monster that appeared from nowhere. The wolf was outnumbered so when one of the bandits hesitantly reached for a weapon she blurted out:

"You have stolen what is mine! Return him to me or suffer the wrath of my forest!"

"It spoke!"

"What is that?!"

"A monster that speaks..."

Fear and confusion spread even further. Many of the bandits paled even more. The tallest one with the best looking armor (the leader?) looked the palest. He shook and had his eyes fixated on Fanv. With trembling lips, he spoke.

"Are y-you perhaps, t-the Forest Guardian?"

Forest Guardian. The embodiment of the forest. The one who guards it. That Guardian. Yes, let's go with that.

"Yes! I am the Forest Guardian, and you humans have offended me greatly!"

Murmur spread among the bandits. Some had heard the tales of Forest Guardians. They were ill known entities who were more well known to the superstitious who lived near nature. They were possessive and spiteful, many legends involved the guardian luring people into their forest and getting them lost. Most simply starved, others were eaten by wild beasts as the guardian laughed and counted off their crimes against nature.

"H-how can we appease you?"

"Stop it chief! That's no god standing before you! It is a monster who has learned words, do not trust it!"

Damn it. They're doubting the story. Think! Think of something to convince them!... Transform? Monsters don't transform. Forest Guardians are shapeshifters.

She willed the transformation to wash over her. Her muscles flowed and bones bent. They didn't crack or break like before, no, now her body moved like soft clay, molding itself in an almost pleasurable way. She felt her arms and legs shorten and her fur pull itself... upwards?

The bandits gasped as the wolf shifted. The leader could barely breathe as he watched the wolf turn into a person completely devoid of color. She was as white as snow, not a speck of color on her skin or hair. Then she opened her eyes and the world seemed to stop.

Golden glowing wells, swirling with emotion and secrets. The color of her eyes was so intense that he lost himself in them. Horns sprouted from her forehead, two slightly curved horns stretching towards the sky. Her hair reached the ground and seemed to glow in the sunlight. Serrated teeth poked out between her lips as she spoke.

"You dare doubt me?"

He fell to his knees. To be able to witness such a celestial being... His heart was racing from the mere thought of it.

"N-no my lady! We will-"

"What are you saying chief? That's no lady??"

"Eeeh? But it has breasts?"

"Where are you looking, idiot? Its dick is swinging right in front of you."

Fanv flinched at that. Maker... What have you done... Don't look. Must look dignified. She cleared her throat and looked at the leader. He hurriedly shouted at his men.

"It's both you fools, a shapeshifter can have whatever body it wishes!"

"But still...."

So persistent! Stop it already!

"You may sooth my wrath by returning what was stolen. The village you attacked is under my protection. I want the boy in the tent behind me."

The bandit beneath her feet started to protest. Oh shit, I forgot he was there. Has he been staring up at me-... Ah, there really is a dick... She took a step to the side so the burly man couldn't keep staring at her private parts... The chief finally reacted.

"Matsson! Fetch the elf boy!"

"But-"

"If the Forest Guardian has chosen that boy to be their groom then there is nothing we can do about it! Do you want to be cursed?!"

Hey hey now. Who said anything about 'groom'? What kind of stories did this guy hear?

"Yes, chief..."

The burly pervert made his way into the tent, casting nervous glances at Fanv as he went. He carefully lifted Mikvel and brought him outside. Mikvel was unconscious. Fanv took her friend from the bandit into a princess-carry. The bandits gulped as they saw her unnatural strength. Her thin body hid many sturdy werewolf muscles so who could blame them.

"Do you want the other woman as well..."

Another bandit asked with a disappointed face. Did they kidnap others as well?

"Yes. Anyone taken from Ogon must be returned alive!"

"What about the stuff?"

Ugh, it's just one thing after the other... Let's not push our luck.

"I care little for earthly possessions. If you return the people then I will spare your lives."

Some bandits shuffled around a bit, grumbling to themselves. Aaah can't lose them now. Gotta scare them. Fanv tried to make the scariest face possible. She opened the other 3 eyes she had kept closed. They were barely visible when closed because of all the white blending together. She also pulled the edges of her mouth as far as possible so she displayed all her sharp teeth.

"Should you refuse me this, then I will curse every single human who sets foot in my forest!"

"Even Ogon villager-"

"Except Ogon villagers!"

The leader stared at the bandit who had spoken in disbelief. How could he question the Guardian? It had gone from the most beautiful thing he had ever seen to something that would haunt his dreams for years! Its mouth stretched to its ears and it had 5 eyes that glowed with fury, the whites of the eyes had turned black, giving it an animal-like look. It looked like a demon! Only a fool would deny such a being what it wants. Losing the few women they kidnapped was nothing compared to earning the hatred of the entire forest!

"Every single one of them will be returned before sundown! Anything else, Great Lord of the forest?"

"No."

She started to walk but stopped to add:

"And anyone who follows me will be eaten alive."

Then she took off at top speed, not letting anyone more interrupt her. Her heart was racing. It had gone well! She had Mikvel and hopefully, the other women will be returned home. Not that she cared very much about them, they hadn't helped her when she transformed. No one had. But Mikvel was different. They had known each other forever and he had just been unlucky enough to be locked up in his room to study that night. Being the son of the Mayor was hard work after all.

Pohc made himself known by jumping high into the air just in front of her.

'Great job, Great one. You fooled them all.'

"Yeah, that was a risky move... But we have Mikvel now!"

'He's bleeding.'

"What?"

She hadn't noticed the scabbed over wounds starting to bleed again. Mikvel was still unconscious too... This is bad.

"We gotta get him to the dungeon quickly!"

Getting Mikvel's limp body through the small cave opening had been a pain in the ass but they'd managed somehow. Turns out Pohc could use his front paws as hands if he really tried.

"Maaaaaker!"

You brought a human! Why?! ... Are you finally ready to mate-

"He's hurt for fuck's sake! Do something!"

Like what?

"I dunno? How did you heal me?"

I claimed you. I can adjust the bodies of my creatures. I cannot claim a human though...

"Then what should we do?! We can't let him die!"

I am thinking, calm down...

Horrible silence. Mikvel's blood was covering her arms as she held him. Heartbeat growing fainter...

Bring him to the lake.

"But the birds..."

I will not let the birds attack you while I heal him.

"Ok"

Fanv left bloody footprints as she carried Mikvel to the underground lake. Mikvel was dying but she trusted Maker to save him.

The lake seemed to glow faintly as she entered the massive cave.

Stand there for a moment.

Fanv obeyed and glanced at the ceiling. The birds sat there glaring but none of them moved. She nearly lost her balance when the ground shook. The dirt and stone of the floor moved. A small pit was forming in the middle of the mushroom field. Glowing string-like roots stretched down and anchored the mushrooms to the newly moved dirt. Then a small canal opened up between the lake and the pit, filling it. The mushrooms that touched the water changed color, the bluish light turning red as new mushrooms spread and covered the bottom of the newly made pond.

"What are you doing?"

Her voice broke. When had she begun crying?

I am forcefully evolving some mushrooms. They will have healing properties that will leak into the water of the pond. There we go. Put him in the water. Make sure his head is above the surface.

Fanv walked to the pond and gingerly placed Mikvel in the water. His head kept lolling to the side and landing in the water so she held him in place. She sniffled as she watched the underwater fungi inch closer to him. They spread their thin roots over his skin and soon new mushrooms grew all around him, holding him in place with their gentle caps. Fanv let go slowly and stifled a sob.

"Thank you."

A friend of my wolf is a friend of mine. I will make him healthy again. This will take some hours, go get some rest.

Fanv obeyed. She went into her cave and let the rodents curl up all around her to keep her human body warm. Pohc snuggled up beside her and yelped in surprise as she pulled him into a hug.

Tomorrow she would see her friend again.